STUDY NOTES on previous study
Rejoice, the Lost is Found! (Luke 15)
This may be the best
known chapter of Luke’s gospel. We love
these stories. Anyone who has attended
The chapter begins by
describing how the tax collectors and sinners were flocking to Jesus. The Pharisees and scribes were outraged! Their reaction to Jesus’ association with
these social outcasts shows how far their hearts and minds were separated from God’s. Their religion was about their status and
their own self-focused desires. Eating
with sinners was more than they could bear.
The irony here is thick – the table from which they wanted to exclude
the sinners – was the very table from which they barred themselves because of
their attitudes towards those they deemed unworthy.
We must be careful to
not repeat their offense. When we use
the table of God to exclude the world from God’s presence instead of inviting
them to His feast, we, like the Pharisees, must repent! When the table is a sign of our righteousness
instead of it being a celebration of God’s gracious provision for all, we must
repent! We gather at God’s table to
celebrate His wondrous love and forgiveness, and as we look around, surely we
see that not near enough are gathered with us!
We are compelled to go out to the highways and byways and invite the
poor, suffering, and neglected to the table of plenty! By refusing to understand God’s concern for
the lost sinners, we exclude ourselves from the feast of rejoicing!
What can we say about
these three parables that has not been said? You recognize the numbers - 1 of 100, then 1
of 10, then 1 of 2. The sheep is lost
through wandering, the coin has no fault – it is inanimate, the son intentionally
strays from the father. But the response
is the same in every case. Upon finding
that which was lost, there is unbridled celebration! Any other response would be unthinkable! So why were the Pharisees so hardened that
they could not rejoice at the lost coming to Jesus? They, like the older brother, had missed the
joy of relationship with God. Some have
suggested the third parable is misnamed as that of the prodigal son – they
suggest it should be the parable of the elder brother. Perhaps they are right – for Jesus was
directing his comments toward the self righteous Pharisee, not the straying
sinner.
Jesus’ comments in v. 7
and 17 do not mean
there are those living without need of repentance. Clearly, all have sinned and fallen short of
the glory of God. Jesus is pointing out what should be the natural response of
the child of God toward those who repent – rejoicing! God is not “more pleased” with the repentant
sinner than with the faithful son, but He does rejoice greatly when the
straying come home! If we properly
understood our standing with God – surviving only by His gracious love and
forgiveness – surely, we too, without hesitation, would greatly rejoice at the
salvation of others! We get into trouble
when we think our standing before God has something to do with our own
righteousness. Such thinking causes us
to jealously guard the borders of the kingdom, letting in only those of whom we
fully approve. Woe to us when we become
border guards to keep the lost out instead of ambassadors welcoming the
repentant sinners in!
The first two parables
speak of the rejoicing surrounding the wandering lost sheep and the lifeless
but valuable coin. The third tells of an
intentional life of blatant disobedience.
It speaks of a son who wishes his father dead (“give me my inheritance
now”). The prodigal son cuts deeply into
the heart of the father, and throws away his inheritance in sinful living. Clearly this case calls for some strong
discipline and severe punishment! Even
the straying son understood this. In the
depths of his squalor, he realized something his older brother never saw –
being anywhere near the father was more than anyone needed! For even the lowest of the servants in the
presence of his father had more than enough to eat! Yes, he would settle for that! He knew he didn’t deserve even that, but he
somehow believed his father would allow him to at least live the life of a
lowly field hand. So over and over he
practiced his speech of repentance.....
There is no way to
capture the emotion of the moment of the son coming home. His father was looking for him! After all the pain he caused him, his father
was looking for him, longing for him, waiting for him. This is the heart of our heavenly Father. Do our hearts reflect the kind of extravagant
love for those who have intentionally harmed us? Do we long for the reconciliation with us and
God with those who have abused us, stolen from us, ruined our good reputations
– do we pray for them to come home? The
father’s response can be summed up in one beautiful word – compassion! Oh, that we could embrace and then emulate
the compassionate love of God! Too
often, though, we manifest the behavior of the older brother. The father has no care for the loss of
dignity he has suffered because of his disobedient son. He doesn’t even need a confession or repentance. Both were obvious by the repentant son’s
behavior. The father lovingly reclothes the son, replacing his rags with a fine
robe. He meets his son’s hunger with the
promise of a fine feast! But the
unbelievable action of the father is the ring!
The ring! The son is restored to
full sonship!
Though he has wasted half the estate, he is given the right to full sonship! This
reminds us of the parable in Matthew 20 when the laborers are paid equally
though some have labored much longer than others. It doesn’t seem fair! But when you are the creator God, and all the
wealth of the universe is yours, you can give as you will. The lost is fully restored. No period of half-sonship. No punishment. The ring is given, accounts can now be
sealed, the full wealth of the estate is once again
his. Oh, to understand the depth of the
gracious love of God!
What does this mean to
us? Do we enable sinners to continue in
their sin in the name of love? No, that
would not be love. But when the sinner
comes home, God calls us to embrace and forgive, as He has embraced and
forgiven each of us. I pray that we not
repeat the anger of the older brother who had missed out on the richness of
relationship with the father out of his own sense of self righteousness.
God’s riches are
inexhaustible. God’s love is
inexhaustible. God’s provisions for
forgiveness are inexhaustible. His
longing for the lost is inexhaustible!
Do we want to make heaven itself rejoice? We must embody the love of the Father, making
the wandering sinner long for the feast that even the lowliest of the servants
enjoy in God’s kingdom.
Rejoice, the Lost is Found! (Luke 15)
1. What
is the main lesson for us from Luke 15?
2. What
can we do to make heaven itself rejoice?
3. How can we create an environment which both
calls sinners to repentance, yet is welcoming and loving as well?
Busted! (Luke 16:1-18)
Read Luke 16:1-9
1. Do
you think the manager was indeed squandering the rich man’s property?
2. What
was the greatest fear of the manager?
3. What
are the good qualities of the manager?
4. What
does Jesus instruct us to do with wealth?
What do you think He means by this?
Read 16:10-13
1. How
can we be faithful with wealth?
2. What
are the “true riches” with which we might be entrusted?
3. Why
can’t we serve God and wealth?
4. Do
you really believe it is impossible to serve both God and wealth? Why or why not?
Read 16:14-15
1. Why
do you think the Pharisees ridiculed Jesus for His teaching?
2. What
do you think Jesus was referring to when he accused the Pharisees of justifying
themselves?
3. To
what is Jesus referring when He says there are things prized by man that are
abominations to God?
Read 16:16-18
1. What
do you think Jesus means when He says everyone attempts to enter the
2. What
does this have to do with every point of the law standing?
3. Why
do you think Jesus mentions divorce and remarriage in this context?
4. What
do you think is Jesus’ main point in this week’s reading?